The opinion of the court was delivered by: Honorable Richard J. Arcara Chief Judge United States District Court

ORDER GRANTING

Plaintiffs secured an Entry of Default on April 17, 2006 in this case under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. §1001 et seq. (hereinafter "ERISA") and the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947, 29 U.S.C. §185 (hereinafter the "Taft- Hartley Act") and now move for default judgment. They have requested that judgment in the amount of $164,425.66 be entered against defendant, representing $96,896.85 in unpaid fringe benefit contributions; $10,736.08 in unpaid Union dues, $20,249.93 in interest on unpaid and late-paid fringe benefit contributions, $3,853.80 in unpaid contributions to the Iron Workers Employer Cooperative Trust Fund (hereinafter "IWECT"); $449.60 in unpaid contributions to the Upstate District Council of Iron Workers and Employers Association, Inc. Industry Advancement Fund (hereinafter "UIWEA"); $2,227.56 in interest on the unpaid Union Dues; $542.14 in interest on the unpaid IWECT and UIWEA contributions; $20,249.93 in lieu of liquidated damages, as authorized by Section 515 of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1145(c)(i); $2,225.00 in audit costs; and $6,994.77 in attorney fees and costs associated with bringing this action. Upon the undersigned's review of the Complaint and the Affirmation of Robert L. Boreanaz, Esq. and Affidavit of Joseph Barnashuk submitted with this motion, together with the documents annexed thereto, it is determined that Plaintiffs are entitled to judgment in an amount of $164,425.66.

Preliminarily, the undersigned notes that plaintiffs are entitled to default judgment only if both procedural and substantive requirements are met. In this action, plaintiffs have satisfied all such procedural requirements, as set forth in Rule 55(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and in Rule 55(b) of this Court's Local Rules of Civil Procedure and, because defendant has not opposed the plaintiff's motion for a default (either on papers or by appearing), and because the factual allegations of plaintiffs' Complaint are taken as true, the substantive prerequisites to obtaining a default judgment in an ERISA action are similarly met. Accordingly, default judgment will be entered against defendant.

Having determined that plaintiffs are entitled to default judgment, the undersigned now determines what amount of money damages are to be assessed. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §1132(g)(2), in any action by a fiduciary for or on behalf of a plan to enforce 29 U.S.C. §1145*fn1 in which a judgment in favor of the plan is awarded, the court shall award:

"(A) the unpaid contributions, (B) interest on the unpaid contributions, (C) an amount equal to the greater of ---

(i) interest on the unpaid contributions, or

(ii) liquidated damages provided for under the plan in an amount not in excess of 20 percent (or such higher percentage as may be permitted under Federal or State law) of the amount determined by the court under subparagraph (a),

(D) reasonable attorney's fees and costs of the action, to be paid by the defendant, and

(E) such other legal or equitable relief as the court deems appropriate."

In support of their calculation showing $96,896.85 due in unpaid fringe benefit contributions, the plaintiff trustee fiduciaries have submitted copies of the applicable Remittance Reports and an Auditor's Report. (See Affidavit of Joseph Barnasuk, filed in this Court on April 26, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as "Barnashuk Affidavit"), Exhibits G, H, I, L and M). The undersigned has determined that these submissions establish that Defendant is liable to Plaintiffs Trustees of the IRON WORKERS LOCAL NO. 6 PENSION PLAN and IRON WORKERS LOCAL NO. 6 SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICAL AND S.U.B. PAY PLAN AND Plaintiffs Trustees of THE IRONWORKER MANAGEMENT PROGRESSIVE ACTION COOPERATIVE TRUST (hereinafter the "Funds") for unpaid fringe benefit contributions in the amount of $96,896.85.

Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement (hereinafter "CBA"), filed with the Complaint in this action (a copy of which is annexed as Exhibit B to the Barnashuk Affidavit), the Payment and Collections Procedures of Plaintiff Local 6 Funds, and 29 U.S.C. §1132(g)(2)(B) of ERISA, interest at 15% per annum is owed by the defendant from the date that the unpaid fringe benefit contributions were due. Based on the calculation summary, annexed as Exhibit J to the Barnashuk Affidavit filed in this Court on April 26, 2006, the undersigned has determined that the amount of interest owed by Defendant to Plaintiffs Funds, calculated through, April 18, 2006 on the above-referenced $96,896.85 in unpaid fringe benefit contributions is $11,731.90.

Pursuant to the CBA the defendant was required to withhold a certain percentage from the wages of all laborers who authorized in writing deduction of Union dues. Plaintiffs have established that there are Union dues of $10,736.08 due and owing to Plaintiff INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL AND ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKERS LOCAL UNION NO. 6 (hereinafter "Local 6"), from Defendant, as set forth in the Barnashuk Affidavit, and as documented in Remittance Reports, the Auditor's Report and the calculation prepared by Mr. Barnashuk annexed to the Barnashuk Affidavit as Exhibits G through I, L and M, respectively.

Pursuant to the CBA, Defendant was required to make payments to the IWECT and UIWEA by the 15th day of the month following the month during which the work was performed. As set forth in the Barnashuk Affidavit, and Exhibits I, L, and M annexed thereto, Defendant failed to pay UIWEA contributions in the amount of $449.60 and IWECT contributions in the amount of $3,853.80, and, accordingly, in indebted to Plaintiff Local 6 in the amount of $4,303.40 for the above-referenced unpaid contributions.

Further, Pursuant to the terms of the CBA and the Payment and Collections Procedures of Plaintiff Local 6 Funds (Barnashuk Affidavit, Exhibit C), as set forth in the Barnashuk Affidavit and Exhibits annexed thereto, interest at 15% per annum is assessed on delinquent dues check-offs, UIWEA contributions and IWECT contributions from the date due through the date paid. Plaintiffs have established, through the calculation of interest due (Barnashuk Affidavit, Exhibit J), that Defendant is liable to Plaintiff Local 6 for ...

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